An initiative to end health benefits for gay and unmarried partners of city employees rolled to victory in Tuesday's election, but the fight might not end there.

The ballot initiative was supported by conservative religious groups that took aim at the city's domestic partners ordinance from the time that it was passed by the City Council last year. But the way the initiative was worded caused confusion among some voters -- and questions about how city officials will implement it.

"I'm sure there will be some legal action," Mayor John Cook said.

Fewer than two dozen city employees receive the benefit. Opponents say it sends the message that the city approves of homosexuality and of heterosexual couples living out of wedlock.

Tom Brown reacts as the results of partner benefits from early voting flash across the bottom of his television screen Tuesday night at his East Side home. (Vanessa Monsisvais / El Paso Times)

And the initiative struck a chord with a majority of the El Paso electorate.

"I happen to be a Christian and I think the gay lifestyle is an abomination to the lord," Tim Moldstad, 53, a retired accountant, said after voting at the El Paso Tennis Club.

And after voting a straight-Democratic ticket in their heavily Democratic Sunset Heights precinct, Leo Vazquez, 47, and his mother, Christine Vazquez, 76, agreed.

"We grew up that way," Leo Vazquez said. "I don't think it's right for a man to marry a man."

Many younger voters, like Alexander Stewart, a 25-year-old Starbucks employee, went to the polls just to vote against the initiative.

"I think it's discrimination," he said. "I think it's the main reason most people I know are going out to vote today.

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Kathryn Thomas, 21, a UTEP engineering student, also voted against the initiative.

"I think a lot of people don't understand," she said. "Some people need to get over it that whole issue. É (Gay and unmarried heterosexual couples) are people just like us."

As with many others on both sides of the issue, Thomas complained that the wording of the initiative was confusing.

It said, "The city of El Paso endorses traditional family values by making health benefits available only to city employees and their legal spouse and dependent children."

That language makes the initiative tricky to enforce, Cook said. "The active verb is 'endorse,' " the mayor said.

"What does that mean we have to do?"

The city's legal staff also has said the wording might exclude retirees from city benefits, which it says violates state law.

"I'm going to make sure our retirees are protected," said city Rep. Steve Ortega, a lawyer who supported the domestic partners ordinance.

Ron Martin, president of the union that represents El Paso police, also said his group would intervene if it appeared the retirees would lose benefits.

No conflict is necessary if city leaders do their job, the Rev. Tom Brown said as he and about a dozen others had a victory celebration at his East Side home. Brown helped lead the drive to pass the initiative.

The city needs to repeal the domestic partners benefit and keep intact benefits for retirees, Brown said.

"If they don't, it would show they don't respect the votes of the people," Brown said.

The group behind the initiative has lawyers ready to represent it, Brown said. He declined to name them.

"I'm glad they can finally afford an attorney," Cook said. He added that if the group had a lawyer to draft the original initiative, there would not be confusion now.